Game discussion thread GDT: Dallas at Sabres 2/10/12 7:30 PM

[\GoBillsInDallas/]

The Dallas Morning News is a pay site, so here are Saturday's articles:

 

Even in another tough loss, Stars still take baby steps forward

 

MIKE HEIKA

The Dallas Morning News Staff Writer

Published: 10 February 2012 11:09 PM

 

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Maybe there is a curse.

Since winning the 1999 Stanley Cup on Buffalo ice, the Stars have not won there again. Granted, they are only 0-4-2 since, but still …

On Friday, it appeared the Stars would break a lot of negative streaks. They held a 2-1 lead into the final minute of regulation, riding an outstanding performance from goalie Kari Lehtonen.

A win would be their first in the second game on back-to-back nights this season.

A win would give them a first in front of Sabres fans since a night that might be the most frustrating in Buffalo hockey history.

But in the final minute, after Lehtonen stopped a shot from the point, the puck floated over to Derek Roy, who was standing all alone near the crease. Just inches from where Brett Hull scored his controversial Stanley Cup-clinching goal back in 1999, Roy found the puck and shoved it in for a tie score with 38.3 seconds left.

Buffalo had the better of overtime and eventually won in the shootout. For Buffalo fans, it was exhilarating. For Dallas fans, it had to be at least a little heartbreaking.

But for the Stars, it was maybe another baby step forward.

No, they did not string together two wins — as they are desperately trying to do right now — but they did get a point in the standings, and they did move up to 28-23-3 (59 points). The fact that Buffalo is now 5-0-1 in the last six and moved up to 24-24-6 (54 points) is immaterial. The Stars inched forward in their battle to try to earn a playoff spot in the West.

“I thought we played a good game,” said Michael Ryder, who scored his 20th goal of the season. “It was a nice point. It would have been good to get two, but overall I thought we played a good game.”

Dallas is 0-8-2 on the second night of back-to-back games, and to break that trend, the Stars decided to play Lehtonen in both games this time. He was fantastic, stopping 31 shots and looking good in the shootout. He was beat on two very good shots and said he never felt tired.

“I thought it was a good thing to do,” Lehtonen said of playing both games. “I feel pretty good. When you compare it to the first two I played [on second nights], this is a big step forward.”

The Stars came out with all sorts of energy and were clearly the better team, as Ryder made a smart deflection on the first goal, and the line of Steve Ott , Jamie Benn and Tomas Vincour made a beautiful play for a 2-0 lead when Vincour scored his second goal of the season.

Buffalo, however, controlled the remainder of the game, taking a 16-4 edge in shots on goal through the third period and overtime and pretty much earned the tie.

So was that a concern for Stars coach Glen Gulutzan?

“No,” he said. “We played a good game.”

That is a big step forward from recent performances on the second nights of back-to-backs. Now, the Stars have to keep pushing forward and continue to pick up points at a crucial part of the season.

Asked if he will be ready to go Sunday against Los Angeles, Lehtonen was diplomatic.

“We can go home, rest up and then see what happens,” he said. “I think we’ll all be ready.”

 

 

 

 

 

Gulutzan: Morrow out at least another two weeks

Captain continues to fight neck, upper back pain and stiffness

 

MIKE HEIKA

The Dallas Morning News Staff writer

Published: 10 February 2012 11:43 PM

 

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Brenden Morrow’s recovery from pain and stiffness in his back, neck and shoulder will take at least “a couple of more weeks,” coach Glen Gulutzan said.

“He’s not making the progress we had hoped for, so we just need to let him continue his rehabilitation and therapy, and that will probably take at least a couple of more weeks.”

Morrow has been bothered by stiffness in his upper back and neck. Besides the pain, Morrow also has difficulty turning his head. He has used rest and injections to deal with the problem for more than a year, but those solutions aren’t working as well now.

“The injections were great at first, and they really solved the problem,” Morrow said by phone from Dallas on Friday. “But the first one lasted a year, and then the next one maybe five or six months, and then the next one a month or so, and then this last one maybe seven days. So we have to take a different approach to this.”

Morrow has had many forms of treatment and has seen an ART (Active Release Therapist) specialist. He said he has talked to doctors and said he might simply have to relearn how to train and play.

“A lot of it is just putting a lot of wear and tear on it over the years and learning how to do things a different way,” said Morrow, who has a tendency to throw himself into people who are trying to check him. “But right now, they’re just recommending rest and therapy.”

Morrow missed six games earlier in the season and came back and played very well. He has missed three games in this stretch and could possibly miss nine more if he is out for two more weeks.

“We just want him to get healthy and feel right,” Gulutzan said. “So we’ll do whatever we have to do.”

Benn plays 200th game

Stars center Jamie Benn played his 200th NHL game Friday at Buffalo. Benn, 22, became the seventh player drafted in 2007 to reach that plateau. He was selected 129th overall.

Since the Stars moved to Dallas in 1993, Benn has more points by his 200th game than any other Stars player. Benn has 145 points. James Neal was closest at 126 points.

Briefly

Sheldon Souray missed Friday’s game with a bruised foot. He was hit by a shot in Columbus on Thursday. He is listed as day-to-day. Mark Fistric took his place in the lineup. It was Fistric’s fourth game in the team’s last eight. … Jake Dowell returned to the lineup and played on the fourth line. Toby Petersen was a healthy scratch. … Adam Pardy returned after a two-game conditioning stint with the Texas Stars. He tallied four assists in the AHL but was a healthy scratch Friday. He last played for the Stars on Jan. 10 against Anaheim.

[FogBat]

The Dallas Morning News is a pay site, so here are Saturday's articles:

 

Even in another tough loss, Stars still take baby steps forward

 

MIKE HEIKA

The Dallas Morning News Staff Writer

Published: 10 February 2012 11:09 PM

 

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Maybe there is a curse.

Since winning the 1999 Stanley Cup on Buffalo ice, the Stars have not won there again. Granted, they are only 0-4-2 since, but still …

On Friday, it appeared the Stars would break a lot of negative streaks. They held a 2-1 lead into the final minute of regulation, riding an outstanding performance from goalie Kari Lehtonen.

A win would be their first in the second game on back-to-back nights this season.

A win would give them a first in front of Sabres fans since a night that might be the most frustrating in Buffalo hockey history.

But in the final minute, after Lehtonen stopped a shot from the point, the puck floated over to Derek Roy, who was standing all alone near the crease. Just inches from where Brett Hull scored his controversial Stanley Cup-clinching goal back in 1999, Roy found the puck and shoved it in for a tie score with 38.3 seconds left.

Buffalo had the better of overtime and eventually won in the shootout. For Buffalo fans, it was exhilarating. For Dallas fans, it had to be at least a little heartbreaking.

But for the Stars, it was maybe another baby step forward.

No, they did not string together two wins — as they are desperately trying to do right now — but they did get a point in the standings, and they did move up to 28-23-3 (59 points). The fact that Buffalo is now 5-0-1 in the last six and moved up to 24-24-6 (54 points) is immaterial. The Stars inched forward in their battle to try to earn a playoff spot in the West.

“I thought we played a good game,” said Michael Ryder, who scored his 20th goal of the season. “It was a nice point. It would have been good to get two, but overall I thought we played a good game.”

Dallas is 0-8-2 on the second night of back-to-back games, and to break that trend, the Stars decided to play Lehtonen in both games this time. He was fantastic, stopping 31 shots and looking good in the shootout. He was beat on two very good shots and said he never felt tired.

“I thought it was a good thing to do,” Lehtonen said of playing both games. “I feel pretty good. When you compare it to the first two I played [on second nights], this is a big step forward.”

The Stars came out with all sorts of energy and were clearly the better team, as Ryder made a smart deflection on the first goal, and the line of Steve Ott , Jamie Benn and Tomas Vincour made a beautiful play for a 2-0 lead when Vincour scored his second goal of the season.

Buffalo, however, controlled the remainder of the game, taking a 16-4 edge in shots on goal through the third period and overtime and pretty much earned the tie.

So was that a concern for Stars coach Glen Gulutzan?

“No,” he said. “We played a good game.”

That is a big step forward from recent performances on the second nights of back-to-backs. Now, the Stars have to keep pushing forward and continue to pick up points at a crucial part of the season.

Asked if he will be ready to go Sunday against Los Angeles, Lehtonen was diplomatic.

“We can go home, rest up and then see what happens,” he said. “I think we’ll all be ready.”

 

 

 

 

 

Gulutzan: Morrow out at least another two weeks

Captain continues to fight neck, upper back pain and stiffness

A sick part of me says that this was actually quite amusing to read.

[wjag]

5-0-1 and still in 11th place. That just shows how bad November, December and January were for Hockey Heaven...

 

Keep it rolling...

[deluca67]

Enroth needs to play tomorrow

Roy was so close to whiffing on that tying goal - it trickled across the line

9 points out of 7th with 3 games in hand

 

A win tomorrow with a toronto loss and things are going to get REAL interesting........

Keep an eye on Florida and Washignton. If Ottawa drops out the top eight that puts Florida and Washington into the top eight. If fans want to target a playoff spot, I would suggest pretending that Ottawa isn't even there.

[Captain Caveman]

Am I the only one who thought that was a great hockey game?

 

I thought it was a good one, bordering on playoff intensity.

[North Buffalo]

I will reiterate again. The Sabres still need a number 1 center, but having Ennis play there is a good thing. Roy still turns the puck over too much and reminds me of Max... all the speed and moves but easy to strip. Roy is a better passer, but still weak on the puck. At least it appears his legs are back. Nice putting Vanek on the fourth line giving the Sabres more balanced scoring until they can find a center. I agree they may have to give up talented D to get one. I suggest Leopold and get rid of Stafford and his on and off again attitude, but that is just me.

[Eleven]

I thought it was a good one, bordering on playoff intensity.

 

Maybe I was just too tired to really get into it or something.

[TheMadCap]

Maybe I was just too tired to really get into it or something.

 

No, I think it was more that there were really not a great number of quality scoring chances the first two periods. Lots of pinball like action in the neutral zone too, looked like ten monkeys chasing a football around. Glad to get the win though...

[fiftyone]

i know the one you're talking about. Wish I could remember who they played. Pretty sure it was in the shootout, though, sometime in 05-06 while Miller was out with a broken thumb and Biron was the "starter."

 

I looked on youtube for it and couldn't find anything. I'm not sure if I just don't have enough information or it it's just not there.

[darksabre]

 

 

I looked on youtube for it and couldn't find anything. I'm not sure if I just don't have enough information or it it's just not there.

 

I love how most of the video results for Noronen have nothing to do with him making saves :lol:

[ROCBuffalo]

Lindy won't send him down, he needs to get 7 minutes from a Center playing Left Wing on the 4 th line. That's development.

 

Just a couple of weeks ago I was starting to watch the games thinking they they weren't going to win, no matter who the opponent was, today I feel like they have a realistic chance of winning against any team.

 

Uh oh, :wallbash: